Seat belts fastener

ABSTRACT

In a two-part separable buckle for a safety seat belt for vehicles, one part comprises a flat shank having a step on at least one side edge and adapted to enter between parallel walls of a frame member in the other part, and a latch member mounted to rock on the frame carries a pawl working in aligned sectorshaped openings in the walls and adapted to engage with the step in the shank of the first part when that is pressed home into the frame.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Douglas J. Cunningham Chichester,England [2i] Appl, No. 17,228

[22] Filed Mar. 6, 1970 [45] Patented Aug. 10, i971 [73] AssigneeWingard Limited Chichester, England [32] Priority July 11, 1969 [33]Great Britain 1541 SEAT BELTS FASTENER I 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. CI 24/230 [5 1] Int. CL, A44b 11/26 [50] Field of Search24/230 AV, 230 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,131,4465/1964 Davis 24/230 A FOREIGN PATENTS 409,842 5 1910 France 24 230 AV,

Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak AnorneyScrivener, Parker, Scrivenerand Clarke ABSTRACT: In a two-part separable buckle for a safety seatbelt for vehicles, one part comprises a flat shank having a step on atleast one side edge and adapted to enter between parallel walls of aframe member in the other part, and a latch member mounted to rock onthe frame carries a pawl working in aligned sector-shaped openings inthe walls and adapted to engage with the step in the shank of the firstpart when that is pressed home into the frame.

- Patented Aug. 10, 1971 SEAT BELTS FASTENER This invention relates toimprovements in safety seat belts for vehicles.

The most commonly used form of seat belt comprises a lap strap attachedat one end to a floor anchorage and a diagonal shoulder strap attachedat one end to an elevated anchorage on the body or on a pillar. Theother ends of the straps are attached to one part of a two-partseparable buckle of which the second part may be attached by a shortlength of strap to a load-carrying part of the vehicle such as the flooror shaft tunnel, or may be mounted on a rigid or semirigid stalk or armwhich supports it in a convenient attitude and position.

When the belt is being put on the lap and diagonal straps are broughtacross the body of the wearer and the first part of the buckle isengaged with the second part. if the second part is mounted on a rigidor semirigid stalk or arm this operation can be carried out with onehand.

In a two-part buckle for a safety seat belt according to our inventionthe first part to which the lap and diagonal straps are connectedcomprises a flat stem or shank having mom or each side behind a taperedor rounded nose a step or shoulder, and the second part comprises aframe incorporating two parallel walls between which the stem or shankon the first part enters and a spring-loaded latch member which is freeto rock on the frame and carries a flat pawl or strut working in alignedsector-shaped openings in the walls of the frame offset from thecenterline of the frame. 7

The apices of the sector-shaped openings are directed towards the openupper end of the frame and the latch member is loaded by a spring whichnormally holds the pawl or strut against the radial edges of theopenings nearest the centerline of the frame.

When the stem or shank on the first part of the buckle is entered intothe frame the nose engages the pawl or strut and pushes the latch memberaside until the nose has passed the pawl or strut, whereupon the latchmember is returned by its spring and the pawl or strut is engagedbetween the adjacent step or shoulder on the stem and the apices of theopenings in the frame.

in this locked position of the buckle the opposite side of the stem isbacked by an end wall of the frame which joins the parallel sidewalls,and the pawl or strut is inclined at a small angle to the centerline ofthe frame in a direction such that a force tending to separate the twoparts of the buckle has a component retaining the latch member in thelocked position.

To separate the two parts of the buckle the latch member is simplyrocked over to displace the pawl or strut outwardly clear of the step orshoulder on the stem.

One form of buckle embodying our invention is illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a vertical section of the complete assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cooperating parts of the bucklewithout the housing; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the latch member and pawl.

The first part of the buckle illustrated is a flat tongue having a wideupper portion in which there is a slot 11 to receive a length of webbingforming the lap and diagonal straps of a seat belt.

Integral with the portion 10 is a flat shank 12 having on one or eachside behind a tapered or rounded nose [3 a step or shoulder 14.

The second part of the buckle comprises a frame into which the shank 12is adapted to enter.

The frame is formed as a stout sheet metal pressing folded to providetwo parallel walls 15 joined by a vertical end wall 16. Aligned openings17 of sector shape each subtending an angle of about 45 are formed inthe parallel walls of the frame, the openings being offset to one sideof the vertical centerline of the frame. The apices of the openings aredirected towards the upper end of the frame which is open and theirinner radial edges are directed inwardly from the apices at an acuteangle to the vertical centerline of the frame,

A latch member which. is mounted to rock on the frame is also formedfrom sheet metal and comprises two parallel limbs 18 which freelyembrace the frame'from the closed end, and an end part 19 which'isextended downwardly to form a finger piece.

The latch member carries a pawl or strut comprising a flat steel member21 of rectangular outline. Its ends are held in slots in the limbs ofthe latch member and it passes freely through the aligned sector-shapedopenings 17 in the frame. A compression spring 22 located between thefinger piece 19 of the latch and the adjacent closed end of the framenormally holds the pawl or strut against the inner radial edges of theopenings.

The upper edge of the pawl or strut and the apices of the sector-shapedopenings 17 are radiused as shown at 23 to allow the pawl or strut torock freely about its upper edge in the openings.

At the upper end of the frame inwardly cranked lugs 24 may be providedon the walls 15 at their free edges to guide the stem of the first partof the buckle, any gap between the lugs beingless than the thicknessofthe stem.

At their lower ends the walls of the frame are drilled to receive a pin25 for connecting to the frame rigid or semirigid stalk or arm 26 whichis anchored to a load-carrying part of the vehicle and supports theframe in a convenient attitude and position for the insertion of thefirst part.

The frame. will usually be enclosed in a moulded plastic or otherhousing 27 which has at its upper end a separate funnelshaped portion 28leading into the upper end of the frame to facilitate the entry of thestern on the first part of the buckle.

The finger piece 19 of the latch member is accessible through an opening29 in the side of .the housing.

It will be appreciated that in the locked position of the buckle shownin FIG. 1 the side of the stem or shank l2 opposite the pawl 21 isbacked by the end wall 16 of the frame and the pawl is inclined at asmall angle to the centerline of the frame in a direction such that aforce tending to separate the two parts of the buckle has a componentretaining the latch member in the locked position.

Further, any pull applied to the first part of the buckle is transmittedthrough the pawl directly to the frame which is itself secured to theanchored stalk or arm 26 so that the whole assembly can be keptrelatively short.

In the above description the term vertical" has been used forconvenience in relation to the frame, but it will be understood that inuse the frame need not be vertical but can be inclined at any angleconvenient for the insertion into it of the first part of the buckle.

I claim: 4

l. A two-part buckle for a safety seat belt comprising a first part towhich lap and diagonal straps of the seat belt are connected and asecond part with which the first part has a snapin releasableengagement,wherein said first part comprises a flat shank with a tapered nose and astep in at least one side edge, and the second part comprises a framehaving parallel sidewalls between which said shank on the first part isadapted to enter, aligned sector-shaped openings in said walls offsetfrom the centerline of the frame, a spring-pressed latch member, a flatpawl which is mounted in said latch member and is engaged in saidsector-shaped openings to form a fulcrum about which said latch memberrocks, said pawl being adapted to engage between the apices of thesector-shaped openings and the step on the shank of the first part whensaid shank is inserted into the frame.

2. A two-part buckle as in claim 1, wherein the apices of saidsector-shaped openings in the walls of the frame of the second part aredirected towards the upper end of the frame which is open to receive theshank on the first part, and the latch member is loaded by a springwhich urges the pawl towards the radial edges of the openings nearestthe centerline of the frame.

3. A two-part buckle as in claim 2, wherein the radial edges of thesector-shaped openings in the walls of the frame nearest the centerlineof the frame are inclined at an acute angle to said centerline in adirection such that in the engaged condition of the buckle any forcetending to separate the two parts of the buckle has a componentretaining the latch member in the engaged position.

4. A two-part buckle as in claim 1, wherein said parallel sidewalls ofthe frame are connected by an end wall by which the side of the shank ofthe first part of the buckle remote from the latch member is backed whenthe two parts of the buckle are engaged.

S. A two-part buckle as in claim 1, wherein said latch member is a sheetmetal pressing having spaced parallel limbs

1. A two-part buckle for a safety seat belt comprising a first part towhich lap and diagonal straps of the seat belt are connected and asecond part with which the first part has a snapin releasableengagement, wherein said first part comprises a flat shank with atapered nose and a step in at least one side edge, and the second partcomprises a frame having parallel sidewalls between which said shank onthe first part is adaPted to enter, aligned sector-shaped openings insaid walls offset from the centerline of the frame, a spring-pressedlatch member, a flat pawl which is mounted in said latch member and isengaged in said sector-shaped openings to form a fulcrum about whichsaid latch member rocks, said pawl being adapted to engage between theapices of the sector-shaped openings and the step on the shank of thefirst part when said shank is inserted into the frame.
 2. A two-partbuckle as in claim 1, wherein the apices of said sector-shaped openingsin the walls of the frame of the second part are directed towards theupper end of the frame which is open to receive the shank on the firstpart, and the latch member is loaded by a spring which urges the pawltowards the radial edges of the openings nearest the centerline of theframe.
 3. A two-part buckle as in claim 2, wherein the radial edges ofthe sector-shaped openings in the walls of the frame nearest thecenterline of the frame are inclined at an acute angle to saidcenterline in a direction such that in the engaged condition of thebuckle any force tending to separate the two parts of the buckle has acomponent retaining the latch member in the engaged position.
 4. Atwo-part buckle as in claim 1, wherein said parallel sidewalls of theframe are connected by an end wall by which the side of the shank of thefirst part of the buckle remote from the latch member is backed when thetwo parts of the buckle are engaged.
 5. A two-part buckle as in claim 1,wherein said latch member is a sheet metal pressing having spacedparallel limbs which embrace said frame and in which the ends of thepawl are located.
 6. A two-part buckle as in claim 1, wherein said frameof the second part of the buckle is connected at its lower end to arigid stalk adapted to be secured to a load-carrying part of a vehicle.7. A two-part buckle as in claim 1, wherein said frame of the secondpart of the buckle is enclosed in a moulded plastic housing having anopening in one side through which said latch member is accessible.